Skyfall by Anthony Eaton Page B

circles.
    â€˜So,’ the man said, turning to Lari again, ‘what brings a lad like you here in the middle of second shift? Shouldn’t you be in school?’
    â€˜I’ve finished school. I’m here to see my father.’
    â€˜Advanced school, eh? Got a placement?’
    â€˜Not yet.’
    â€˜And what does your dad do?’
    â€˜He’s the head of research here.’
    Lari caught the man’s slight start as he put the pieces together.
    â€˜You’re Dernan Mann’s son?’
    Lari nodded. There didn’t seem any point denying it.
    â€˜Now you mention it, you do look like him. I’d heard he had a youngster.’
    He didn’t seem even slightly fazed. Lari watched carefully for that flicker of judgement that usually followed hard upon the heels of someone discovering his identity, but with this man there wasn’t even a hint of it. Lari found himself relaxing slightly, almost grateful to the stranger, who seemed easy to talk to.
    â€˜So you don’t have a placement yet? I expect that before too much longer you’ll be taking up a position here with your brother.’
    â€˜I guess. Unless something else acceptable comes along in the meantime. I’m in no hurry.’
    The man raised an eyebrow. ‘The project doesn’t interest you, then?’
    â€˜Not much. There doesn’t really seem a lot of point, does there?’
    â€˜How so?’
    â€˜Everyone knows the subjects are almost all dead. What’s left for DGAP to do once they’re gone? Not a lot, just a whole pile of data crunching, and for what? It’s not like the results will be useful with no living primary subjects.’
    â€˜Is that what your father believes?’
    â€˜I think so. He never puts it in quite those terms, though.’
    â€˜I guess he wouldn’t. Not after what happened to your mother. So if not DGAP, what have you got in mind, then?’
    â€˜Nothing, really. If I tell dad that I’d like to go outside the family field, my life won’t be worth living, so I just thought I’d kill time until somebody puts me somewhere, hopefully not here.’
    â€˜Sounds like a solid plan to me.’ The man grinned. ‘Half your luck. Wish I could find the time to just relax and let things happen.’ He looked at his wristband. ‘And on that subject, I can’t hang around here all shift waiting for these two to settle their differences.’
    â€˜You’re not going to wait?’
    â€˜Nah. I just wanted to leave a message for someone. It can wait until later. Nice meeting you, son.’
    â€˜You too.’ Lari meant it. He’d enjoyed having a conversation that didn’t involve defending himself or his family. The man nodded and left through the main doors, out into Port North Central.
    â€˜â€¦ and I’m telling you that nothing of the kind has happened, either today or at any point in the last five hundred years!’ The receptionist was no longer even trying to hide her exasperation. ‘Now, please leave or I’ll ask security to assist your departure.’
    â€˜Don’t threaten me, miss,’ the man retorted. ‘I’ll go, but you inform your superiors that Alphaweb will be watching DGAP very closely.’
    â€˜I’m sure they’ll be shaking in their boots to hear that, sir.’
    The man stalked across to the hub and summoned a lift, and the woman rolled her eyes skywards.
    â€˜Next!’
    Lari stepped up to the counter.
    â€˜I’m Larinan Mann. My father’s expecting me.’
    The invocation of his father’s name had its usual effect. The woman glanced at him, noted the family resemblance, and looked suddenly nervous.
    â€˜Of course, Mr Mann. Just one moment …’ She punched a couple of commands into her terminal. ‘Um … I don’t seem to have you on the authorised list.’
    â€˜I was told to report straight to research